Most people wait until an emergency before they start hunting for a vet. That's how you end up with whoever has an opening. A little upfront work saves you from bad hires, bad medicine, and bad blood.
Licensing & Insurance Questions
The license must be current in your state. Look it up on the state veterinary board website yourself — don't take their word for it. Ask if they carry malpractice insurance. Some vets go bare. If they do, you're on the hook for mistakes. Also ask if they carry their own liability or if they're covered under your facility's policy. The answer tells you how seriously they take risk.
Experience & References Questions
Years in practice don't tell you much. Ask what kind of cases they see regularly. A cat-only vet might flounder with a colicky horse. References are only useful if you call them and ask specific questions: Did this person show up on time? How did they handle a pissed-off client? Did they blame the staff for their own mistakes? Listen for hesitation. If the reference pauses, something happened.
Pricing & Timeline Questions
Get their hourly rate and what it covers. Some charge extra for after-hours calls, sedation, or mileage. Ask how long a typical appointment takes — a vet who rushes through exams misses things. Also ask about their notice period if they quit. Thirty days is standard. Less than that means you could be scrambling. More than sixty days means they're already half out the door.
Contract Questions
Read the non-compete clause out loud to them. If it's too broad or too long in miles or years, expect pushback. Make sure the contract spells out who owns the medical records — you do, not them. Get termination terms in writing: what constitutes cause, how much notice you owe, and whether you can fire them for incompetence without a fight. Verbal handshake deals are how you get sued.
Compare local veterinarians on RatingsNearMe before you make an offer — one quick search tells you who the community trusts and who they avoid.